Battery terminal connector



Feb. 27, 1951 ANDERSON 2,543,540 BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR I Filed Nov.28, 1947 Patented Feb. 27, .1951

UNITED STATES PATENT 5565 3 Claims. '1

Th 's'invention relates to an improved adapter particularly for use inconnecting an electric cable to a battery terminal such as used inautomobies and the like.

The annoyance associated more particularly with the freeing of thecommon cable clamp or connector from a battery terminal is well knownand which necessitates the initial unscrewing of some part of theconnection which invariably is awkward to accomplish.

Thus one of the principal objects of the instant invention is tominimize such annoyance.

Another object is to simplify both the application and removal of such adevice.

Still another object is to providesuch an appicator having partsconveniently cooperative with other removable "parts for special orparticular association with the battery terminal.

A still further object is to provide a combination of parts that areeasy .of construction and that do not require special fitting ormachining of parts except as to the proper and common fitting of theclampng screw.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description of theinvention proceeds.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application:7

Fig. l is a top plan View of one of the completely assembled adaptersembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the removable looking bolt and clampingscrew.

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view of the housing alone shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side, back, and top plan view, A, B, and C respectively, ofthe auxiliary clamping shoe.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the auxiliary clamping shoetowards the back thereof.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the ada ter housing only. I

Fig. 7 is a simiar view of the locking bolt.

In the drawing l represents the hollow main body portion or housing ofthe adapter which s somewhat elongated and general y rectangular incross section and has formed integral therewith at one end thetransverseelongated cable receiving sleeve 2 and at its opposite fiatend is provided with a marginally stepped central bore 3 for .optionalreception of 5 the oppositely bayonetted locking bolt 4. p

The main central through open ng 5 of the housing is preferably ofgeneral U-shape, concaved as at 6 at one end, and stepped thoughgenerally fiat at the opposite or bolt receiving end.

The concaved portion '3 is for the better conminal which is usuallycylindrical and for a like reason there is provided the auxiliaryclamping nut-like shoe 'i, the use of when is, obviously. optional, butdeemed novel in that its being directly coactive with the clamping boltor screw 8 as well as the housing of the adapter.

This coactive relation of the shoe 1 with both the clamping and lockingbolts occurs by virtue of its being provided in the center of its backwall portion 9 with the bolt receiving recess iii to permit automaticseating and adjustment of the shoe when forced to place by engagement ofthe. end of the clamping bolt 8 when forcing sameagainst a batteryterminal post.

For quick adjusting accommodation of the locking bolt 3 the innerapproximate half thereof stepped recesses ll each terminating inwardy ina finger-like rectangularly shaped extension l2, said channels acting asguiding ways for contact ng the ends of the cross head fingers orbayonets l3l3 formed integral with the inner end of the cylindricalportion of the locking bolt 4.

The extensions 12 form guides and holding members for the auxiliaryclamping shoe I as the latter is'provided with opposite channels l4-l4in the walls thereof so that when once in pace with n the housing whenabout a terminal post it is locked against turning therein though freelyadjustable towards or away from said post.

The outer approximate half of what I have termed the IOCkiIlg bolt 4 isrectangular in cross section and in this instance is shown as square asat 15, thi being for convenient application of a wrench for unlockingthe adapter as by turning same until the fingers l3 regster with therecesses H so that same may be removed.

Thus, when the shoe 1 is employed within the housing astride the fingersl2 it can not fall out while the adapter is about a terminal post and ifexceptionally tight against the terminal post all that is necessary forquick release and removal of the adapter is a partial rotation of thelocking bolt 4 in either direction when the looking bolt may be easilyremoved by hand and the job is accomplished.

It is deemed apparent that while the instant adapter has been describedas using the shOe 1 in conjunction with the housing and locking bolt,the device could readily be successfully employed without said shoe bymerely placing the housing over the terminal with the locking bolt inplace and then screwing the looking or clamping screw 8 inwardly tightlyagainst the terminal post.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A battery terminal connector comprising a body portion, cablereceiving means carried by said body portion, said body portion having afirst opening therethrough to receive the terminal of a battery and asecond openin in one wall thereof communicating with said first opening,a pair of opposed channels formed in the periphery of said secondopening, a locking bolt for insertion through said second opening,fingers carried by said bolt for registering with the channels of saidsecond opening, said channels permitting the insertion and removal ofsaid bolt into said second opening in a predetermined position, saidbolt being rotatable Within said second opening after said fingers areextended therethrough, and a. clamping screw carried axially of saidbolt and extending therethrough to engage a battery terminal for holdingsaid body portion firmly engaged on said battery terminal when said boltis turned Within said second opening so that said fingers are not inregister with said channels.

2. A battery terminal connector comprising a body portion, cablereceiving means carried by said body portion, said body portion having afirst opening therethrough to receive a battery terminal and a secondopening in one wall of said body portion communicating with said firstopening, a locking bolt for insertion through said second opening,opposed finger-like extensions carried on the inner end of said bolt,opposed channels formed in the periphery of said second opening, saidbolt being insertable through said second opening and rotatable thereinwhen said extensions are through said channels, and a clamping screwcarried axially through said bolt to engage said battery terminal andhold said bodyportion in firm engagement therewith, said fingers servingto lock said bolt within said second opening when they are not inregister with said channels.

3. A battery terminal connector comprising a body portion, cablereceiving mean on said body portion, said body portion having a batteryterminal receiving opening and a second openin in one wall thereofcommunicating with said first opening, a pair of opposed channels formedin the periphery of said second opening, shoulders around the inner endof said second opening, a locking bolt for insertion through said secondopening, a pair of opposed fingers extendin from the inner end of saidbolt, said fingers being adapted to be received through said channelswhen said bolt is inserted and removed through said second opening, saidbolt being" rotatable within said second opening to move said fingersout of register with said channels to engage said shoulders and locksaid bolt within said second opening, and a clamping screw carriedaxially through said bolt to engage a battery terminal and hold saidconnector in firm engagement with said battery terminal.

HANS GEORGE ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent;

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,780 Hagist July 5, 19381,679,716 Frasier Aug. 7, 1928 1,821,486 Taylor Sept. 1, 1931 1,959,310Tronolone May 15, 1934 2,073,980 Williams et a1. Mar. 16, 1937

